Frame / Springs: Restomod Using Lincoln Town Car Chassis and Drivetrain

[hausdok]

Just curious,

Has anyone ever seen a K body restomod using a Lincoln Town Car engine, chassis and drivetrain? The dimensions for some models are close and they are plentiful. They are the last American sedan made with a full frame chassis and rear wheel drive. Modern suspension, modern brakes, modern handling, fuel injected engine - wheelbase barely an inch shorter.

It would be a long project; but I bet with some careful engineering one could build a K-sleeper that would shock the hell out of folks with its handling and performance.

Don't know why I get these crazy ideas - guess I need therapy.

[PackardV8]

Wheelbase is one thing, but how would one compensate for the Lincoln track width being 9" wider than the Studebaker (66" versus 57")?

jack vines

[63r2]

Wheelbase is one thing, but how would one compensate for the Lincoln track width being 9" wider than the Studebaker (66" versus 57")?

jack vines

Flare the guards.
pb

[swvalcon]

A guy could shorten the rear but front would not be easy. Most newer town cars had air ride and not that great of a system.

[sals54]

Why waste the time and money to flare the fenders... just cut 'em. Like the old 50s NASCAR style.

[hausdok]

Wheelbase is one thing, but how would one compensate for the Lincoln track width being 9" wider than the Studebaker (66" versus 57")?

jack vines

Yeah, I saw that. I looked at photos of one of those chassis' stripped on another site. Could one not narrow the chassis some and use wheels with a different inset and adjust the steering stops?

[PackardV8]

Could one not narrow the chassis some and use wheels with a different inset and adjust the steering stops?

Anything is possible. Would most reputable street rod builders recommend that as a plan of action? Not in my experience.

Just asking, why would one start with the heaviest, lowest powered, worst handling platform possible? I traveled on business and occasionally got stuck with a Lincoln Town Car. Putting that chassis under a Stude is not in my list of best ideas.

jack vines

[hausdok]

Anything is possible. Would most reputable street rod builders recommend that as a plan of action? Not in my experience.

Just asking, why would one start with the heaviest, lowest powered, worst handling platform possible? I traveled on business and occasionally got stuck with a Lincoln Town Car. Putting that chassis under a Stude is not in my list of best ideas.

jack vines

Fair enough, Jack.

If you had your druthers, what would you choose?

[63 R2 Hawk]

I have seen some '50s bodies adapted to the GM S-10/S-15 chassis and they fit pretty nicely. I think there are a few 2R and M5 pickups on those chassis. I would think that would be a MUCH better choice, allowing for a wide array of engine options and it's a rugged platform.

[hausdok]

Hmmm,

http://www.artmorrison.com/2006cat/24.pdf

[PackardV8]

I have seen some '50s bodies adapted to the GM S-10/S-15 chassis and they fit pretty nicely.

Pickups and '47-52 sedans, no problemo. However, most want a C/K to be low-slung.

Fair enough, Jack. If you had your druthers, what would you choose?

I've done it and seen it done several different ways, including Corvette, FatMustangII, and a custom square tube frame and it's always serious time and money. Most CASOs don't want to spend the money to completely adapt a different chassis.

If I were ever to try again, it would be the Art Morrison chassis and that's at least a $10,000 bill just for the parts and that much again for the labor.

Bottom line, there's nothing wrong with the way the Studebaker chassis drives and handles when given all new wear parts, the Moog front springs, a bit of welded reinforcement, Thibault sway bars, Turner brakes and performance tires on custom 16" or 17" wheels.

FWIW, maybe next summer I hope to be reporting on how all the above plus fiberglass rear leaf springs handle high horsepower and hard cornering in a custom C-body.

jack vines

[Sdude]

I would suggest widening the C/K body. If you did it cleverly enough, people would notice it looks different but not be able to put their finger on the fact that it is wider. It's not something you would normally see done. They would just think it looks cool and be impressed with it.

That Lincoln may be a poor performer but I'd bet it wouldn't be with the C/K body on it. I'll bet it would be bad a**...

I think you should do it.

[StudeDave57]

I've often wondered about using a Jaguar XJ-S from the mid/late '80s as a donor for a project like this...





StudeDave '57

[PackardV8]

IIRC, the Jaguar XJ-S is a unibody with front and rear subframes.

Didn't Bob just part out a failed project where someone tried to adapt the Jag front and rear subframes to a GT Hawk? Your results might vary.

jack vines

QUOTE=StudeDave57;733519] I've often wondered about using a Jaguar XJ-S from the mid/late '80s as a donor for a project like this...





StudeDave '57 [/QUOTE]

[StudeDave57]

IIRC, the Jaguar XJ-S is a unibody with front and rear subframes.
Didn't Bob just part out a failed project where someone tried to adapt the Jag front and rear subframes to a GT Hawk?
Your results might vary. jack vines

I never got much past the "I wonder if that would work?" stage, so I would not know.
Being that those cars are supposed to handle well, I figured it might be fun to try.

But then I got hooked on sedans. And busses.




StudeDave '57